Iranian Hostage

Jennifer Benitez & Neyda Reyes

Iranian Hostage

Jennifer Benitez & Neyda Reyes

The Iranian Hostage

In 1979 the muslim fundamentalist and their leader overthrew the shah of Iran, later on that same year in October 1979, Carter allowed the shah to enter the U.S for cancer treatment. But little did they know that this would cause a big scandal for president Carter in the U.S .

Carter refused to let the shah go back to Iran ever after he knew how much it angered them. On November 4, 1979 the Muslim fundamentalist and leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, decided they would take matters into their own hands and take control of the American embassy which was located in Tehran. They took 52 American hostages and wouldn't release them until president Carter send the Shah back to Iran, but Carter still refused. The Americans were hostage for 444 days and they were not released until a day after the next president, Ronald Reagan, was inaugurated. The Muslim fundamentalist were trying to prove that Carter did not control or have a say in what they did.

Important Terms

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini-an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran.

The Shah- A nations ruler or head of state, usually by hereditary right

American Embassy- a group of people who work under an ambassador and represent their country in a foreign country.

Ronald Reagan- President after Jimmy Carter

52 Americans were held captive in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Americans didn't want the Iranians in the United States after the Iranian hostage crisis